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born 1951 South Africa
Patricia Ann Whitelock (born 22 February 1951) is a British-born astrophysicist with dual British-South African nationality. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (of which she was Vice-President in 2002); a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa; and a member of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), (of which she was President in 2001-2003).
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I have a husband, John Menzies, who is also an astronomer and who has always been very supportive.
Is also dealing with other types of discrimination but it will take time.
Less bureaucracy would help in almost every single way.
It is impossible to do everything yourself.
If you are going to get married and or have children then you must find a partner who is a true partner.
I do not have children, and am immensely impressed by women who do and also manage to be successful astronomers.
The racial imbalance in the workforce remains the major problem.
At SAAO there are a few women in scientific posts.
That bias has been more or less eliminated since.
Astronomy has to be your life, not just your job, or you are unlikely to do well or be happy. If you are going to get married…then you must find a partner who is a true partner, because it is impossible to do everything yourself.
As far as my career is concerned I am sure I have got where I am going.
Of the 5 astronomers on the Executive Committee, I am the only woman.
It is well worth it, but astronomy has to be your life, not just your job, or you are unlikely to do well or be happy.
The legislation that was put in place to try and remove racial discrimination.
What is clear in South Africa is that many things were strongly biased against women prior to our first democratic election in 1994.
That is not to say that women occupy 50% of top posts, but there are at least some women in top posts and the profile of the workforce is gradually changing.
All in senior engineering or IT posts. Of the 25 astronomers on the SAAO staff, 5 are women only one of them born in South Africa.
I am currently Head of the Astronomy Division and I was Acting Director for about 18 months following the death of the Director.
8 or 9 hours now, but I used to do 10 to 12 when I did more research.
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